# Accident 20160217001819A: Cessna 172S, Newport News, VA, February 17, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 17, 2016, 10:40 local time
- Place: Newport News, VA
- Airport: Newport News Int.
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: BGSS
- Location: 37.1319° N, 76.4931° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1319&lon=-76.4931&mi=10
- Aircraft: N35502, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172S (registry code 2072439, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172S
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA16CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA134) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160217001819A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON HIS INITIAL SOLO. HE FIRST FLEW WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND DID FOUR LANDINGS. WINDS WERE ALMOST CALM. AFTER THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THE STUDENT PILOT TAXIED OUT TO DO THREE LANDINGS. THE THIRD LANDING HAD A CROSSWIND. THE PILOT OVER CONTROLLED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA16CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA134), Feb 17, 2016: Cessna 172 (N35502), Newport News, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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